Light-dimmer switch



Jan. 17, 1928.

A. J. GIEBEL LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH Filed Nov. 18, .1925

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Patented Jan. 17; 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST J. GIEBEL, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LIGHT-DIMMER SWITCH.

Application led November 18, 1925. Serial No. 69,771.

This invention relates to switches especially designed for motor vehicle lighting systems wherein headlights, lanterns'or other types of lamps are electrically operated to illuminate streets and highways and controlled by a switch.

This invention aims to provide a novel foot operated switch which obviates the necessity of using a hand for adjusting the switch, thus allowing the use of both hands at all times for steering. The switch is constructed to provide an ordinary electric circuit for the headlights by which there will be bright lights, and this ordinary circuit is adapted to be interrupted by the inclusion of a resistance by which the bright lights are dimmed to promote safer night driving on the highways.

My invention further aims to provide a treadle operated switch for an electric light circuit including headlights adapted to be dimmed to prevent a glare blinding to pedest'rians and the drivers of approaching vehicles. The construction of the switch affords alternate or intermittent dimming of the headlights and this is accomplished by an arrangement of stationar able contacts in connection wit a ratchet mechanism by which the movable contacts are shifted relative to the stationary contacts, some of which include a resistance coil by which the electrically operated headlights are dimmed. l

My invention further aims to provide a durable and compact switch mechanism that is applicable to various types of motor vehicles and the construction of the switch will behereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had ings wherein Figure 1 is a plan of the switch;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the housing in section showing parts within the housing;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line B-B of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of an insulator provided with contact members;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a portion of the ratchet mechanism forming part of the switch;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of a ratchet rotor;

1to the draw- .treadle or button and mov-4 Fig. 7 Yis a rear view ofthe rotor showing contacts carried thereby; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram.

ln the drawing, the reference numeral 1 denotes a substantially rectangular housing provided with a detachable cover 2, and mounted on said cover and suitably secured thereto is the lower inner tubular section 3 of a telescopic casing 4 which serves as a piece adapted to be depressed by a foot.

Attached to the top of the casing 4 and extending through said casing and the housing 4 is a non-rotatable plunger 5 which has the lower end thereof provided with a washer 9, a screw 10 and a washer 11, already cooperating in limiting the upward movement of the plunger 5 relative tothe housing.

In the telescopic casing 4 is a coiled expansion spring 8 bearing on the cover 2 of the housing 1, and the expansive force of this spring holds the telescopic casing or treadle 4 normally elevated.

nthe housing 1 are end plates or insulators 16 and 19, preferably made of fiber or some suitable insulated material and mounted in these insulators and held therein by nuts 17 is a shaft 15 on which is loosely mounted a rotor 12 in the form'of a ratchet wheel having teeth 25 engageable by a flexible or yieldable pawl 6 connected to a face of the plunger 5 by rivets 7 or other fastening means. The pawl 6 is secured to the plunger adjacent its upper end and extends through the cover 2 into the housing 1, so that when kthe casing or treadle 4 is depressed the rotor may be intermittently actuated.

The rotor 12 has a plurality of contact members 13 preferably three, in form of rivets having the heads thereof projecting from one face of the rotor and said rivets have ends thereof connected by a disk 14 on the opposite face of the rotor.. This disk serves as a wear plate for a coiled expansion spring 18 encircling the shaft and abutting one of the nuts 17.

The end plate or insulator 19 is provided with terminals or stationary contacts 20. preferably two in number in proximity to recesses or seats 26 in the end plate or insulator 19. The terminals in the seats 26 are arranged so that-the spring pressed rotor 12 may have its contacts 13 engage certain shaft and the outer nut 17 in providing a binding post to which a Wire from a battery or other source ot electrical energy may be attached. A headlight wire 30 is adapted to be attached to one ot the terminals 20 and branched at 31 to 2grounded headlights 32.

-When the treadle 4t is depressed the paWl 6 engages one of the teeth 25 and partially rotates `the rot-or 12. -lVhen the treadle is' released the spring 8, restores the treadleto normal' elevated position, so that the treadle may be again depressed. The rst actuation of the rotor is for approximately sixty degrees and one oi the contacts 13 engages one of the terminals 20, While the other contacts 13 seatthemselves in the recess 26 of the kinsulator `19 thus preventing accidental rotation of the rotor.

There may be a bright light circuit or a dim light circuit, the current for the bright light circuit being from the battery through the shaft 15 to the disk 14, and one of the contacts 13 to a terminal 20, independent of the resistance coil 21, so that the lights are bright. To dim the lights the treadle is again depressed to actuate the rotor for another siztydegrees.- One of the contacts 13 engages the terminal 20, opposite the first mentioned terminal and current passes through the terminal and the coil `21 to the headllghts, the current being reduced by the resistance coil 21 dims the lights and theyremain dimmed until the treadle is again actuated, Which brings the lights on full. It is by virtue of the ratchet mechanism that the lights are alternately bright and dim.

lt is thought that the operation and utility of the switch will be apparent Without further description, and While in the drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment to provide circuits Which alternately include y andlomit said resistance, and a ratchet mechanism including said rotor as a part thereof adapted to be operated to move said rotor.

2. A dimmer rheostat as called for in claim 1, and a shaft supporting said rotor with a spring encircling said shaft and pressing against said rotor to maintain engagement between said stationary contacts and said roto-r contacts.

3. A dimmer rheostat comprising a pair of stationary contacts, a resistance connecting said contacts, a shaft, a rotor on said shaft having contacts adapted to alternately engage said stationary contacts, ratchet teeth on the peripher of saidrotor, a spring supported plunger a apted for rotating said rotor, and a telescopic casing inclosing a portion of said rotor and its spring.

4..A dimmer rheostat as called for in claim 3, further characterized by an insulator supporting the stationary contacts and having recesses to receive the rotor contacts.

5. A dimming switch comprisingl a housing, a telescopic casing carried thereby, a rotor in said housing, means in said casing extending into said housing adapted to intermittently act-nate, said rotor, stationary contacts in said housing, a resistance connected to some of said contacts, contacts carried by said rotor for engagement with said stationary contacts, and means in said housing pressin against said rotor adapted to prevent accldental rotation thereof.

In testimony vthereof I atlix my signature.

AUGUST J. GIEBEL. 

